EFFECT OF HOLD-TIME DAMAGE ON HIGH TEMPERATURE FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR

Abstract— —A series of tests has been carried out to investigate the effect of sequential high frequency fatigue cycles interspersed with hold times on elevated temperature crack growth rates in AISI type 304 stainless steel. Each test sequence included different combinations of fatigue cycles and hold-times. Those sequences which included the smallest number of fatigue cycles resulted in the fastest crack propagation rates. The sequence with a block of 1000 cycles and a 120min hold time had the slowest crack propagation rate, similar to that for a reference 5 Hz fatigue test. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed alternating regions of transgranular and intergranular fracture corresponding to the respective fatigue block and hold-time period. Intergranular fracture was observed to be characteristic of maximum time-dependent and time-independent damage interaction, which was associated with those specimens subjected to sequences including a block of 50 fatigue cycles, possessing the fastest crack propagation rates. The results may be explained using a model based on fatigue-creep-environment interaction. During the hold-time a damaged zone due to oxidation induced cavitation formed at the crack tip. Depending on the stress intensity factor range, the subsequent fatigue cycles continued to extend the crack through part or whole of the remaining portion of this region. For the remainder of the fatigue block the crack propagated in its normal transgranular mode. Oxide induced closure at low Δ K levels brought about the lowest crack propagation rate for the sequence consisting of a block of 1000 cycles and a 120 min hold period.